The vegetable market in Jeddah leaves something to be desired: cleanliness, according to this Saudi Gazette piece. It seems that the laborers hired to keep the market clean have discovered that they can earn more in tips in carrying groceries than by doing the job for which they were hired (and are still drawing their wages). As a consequence, coupled with a still developing sense of public health, the market is in danger of becoming a pestilent blight on the city.

Vegetables, cleaners all there, but where’s hygiene?
Salem Al-Jahni

JEDDAH – Overall hygiene at Al-Halaqa, the Jeddah Vegetable Market, located in Al-Safa District is deteriorating to such an extent that many environmentalists have warned of an imminent health hazard.

Shoppers are greeted with fluids from overflowing sanitary drains which cover the floor of the market as well as by nasty smells coming from overflowing septic tanks.

This has prompted consumers to urge the preventive medicine authorities at Jeddah Mayoralty to tighten control, strictly monitor the products being sold at Al-Halaqa, and set up a quality control laboratory to ensure that the products sold there are fit for human consumption.

Apart from this, consumers want something be done about the negligent cleaning companies contracted to ensure the cleanliness of the market. The company employees, it is alleged, work as porters instead of doing their job as cleaners to earn some quick money.
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